The current monarch and head of state of Meriad is Queen Crica, who ascended the throne after the abdication of her father, King Sketli, on 1 January, 2017. The heir apparent is Crown Prince Martin Sommerfeldt.

The Queen's functions as the Meriadnihead of state are mainly ceremonial. She is charged with formally ratifying treaties and accords, signing laws and royal decrees, and with the formal appointment of a variety of executive officials including the Prime Minister. She is also a tangible figure of national unity, and the formal supreme commander of the Meriadni Armed Forces

Nonetheless, there are a number of roles still personally exercised by the reigning monarch, such as the formal signing of international treaties and accords ratified by the Hall of Jarls, the appointment of the Prime Minister and other senior government officials, the official review of the Armed Forces, and the personal command of the 83rd Cavalry Squadron of the Royal Marines ("The Queen's Own").

History

List of Monarchs

This list encompasses all Meriadni monarchs from the country's unification in 1520 until the present.

Succession

Since 1811, succession within the Monarchy of Meriad has been through absolute primogeniture, wherein the reign is passed to the firstborn child of the reigning monarch regardless of gender. The heir apparent, referred to as the Crown Prince/Princess, as well as any members of the Royal Family with direct claim to the throne have the right to abdicate, passing the throne to the next individual in the line of succession.

Upon the death of the reigning monarch, the heir apparent immediately and automatically accedes to the throne, and is required to take the Oath of the Crown. This oath is administered by the Talerjarl of the Hall of Jarls, and requires the monarch to swear to uphold the honor and defense of Meriad. In the case of abdication, the abdicating monarch retains executive authority until the Oath of the Crown has been administered to the heir apparent.

Honors

Royal Crest

The Royal Crest of the Monarchy of Meriad was adopted by King Pietr III in 1791, and is blazoned as "Per pale bleu-celeste on azure, a stag statant Or charged with banner purpure, banner bearing pair of acorns slipped Or with tips towards base."

The Royal Crest of the Monarchy of Meriad.

Residences

The Meriadni Monarch retains three official residences, all of which are used on a regular basis by members of the royal family and visiting dignitaries. The Capital Palace, located just outside the city limits of Járnfjördur, is the primary residence of the royal family, and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. One wing of the palace is open to the public as a museum, while the remainder is off-limits for use by the royal family. The monarchy also retains a second palace near the city of Vatsvik in Steinhjem, which is entirely closed to the public. This is where the royal family spends much of the summer, and is accordingly named the "Summer Palace."

The Royal Family also has a townhouse in downtown Járnfjördur roughly half a mile from the Westford House, the official residence of the Prime Minister. This facility is primarily used to house visiting foreign dignitaries, but is occasionally used by other members of the royal family.